From the mission field – First CLETCO graduation

The first-ever CLETCO graduation was held in September. Pictured above, in back, are the Rev. Joseph Mavoungou, former president of the Lutheran Church—Congo; Vicar Jacques Keke Mayanama; Vicar Marien Mavinga; the Rev. Armel Ouadika, CLETCO professor; and the Rev. Albert Koutia, president of the Lutheran Church—Congo. Kneeling, in front, are Vicar Kaboulou Friedrich, Blessing Diloubenzi and André Diloubenzi. Mayanama, Mavinga and Friedrich have completed their CLETCO studies; Andre has one year left.

Established in the 1980s by refugees from neighboring countries, the Lutheran Church of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, continues to grow.

The church body is blessed with strong pastors trained at the French-speaking Lutheran seminary in Dapaong, Togo (Centre Luthérien d’Études Théologiques, or CLET). However, the language differences and expense of sending men to foreign lands for pastoral training led the Brazzaville church, in the fall of 2017, to begin offering first-year training for students. The LCMS is currently supporting CLET—Congo (CLETCO) in Brazzaville to provide local pastoral training and medical mercy work.

In September, despite disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, three students completed their studies, marking the first CLETCO graduation.

The Rev. Joseph Mavoungou, CLETCO director, shared this message at the graduation ceremony: “I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus, in whom we have being, life for eternity. By this message, I would like to inform you of the closure of our academic year and also the granting of the certificates of end of studies to the first graduating class of our center.

“We want to recognize that it was not easy, but with your prayers and support from our partner, the LCMS Office of International Mission, who helped support the faculty and all the students and their families, we closed the year. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our program, but we took the faithful step to finish, and it happened under the blessing of our Heavenly Father.”

Posted Nov. 17, 2020/Updated Dec. 1, 2020